Mystery Man Frees 200-Ton Vessel in Bristol Harbour

A man was caught on CCTV untying the mooring ropes of the 200-ton research vessel Lady Kate in Bristol’s Floating Harbour on September 10, 2023. This incident has heightened concerns about a potential series of vandalism targeting boats moored in the area, which could lead to significant damage or even fatalities.

The incident occurred around 03:00 local time when the unidentified individual approached the mooring ropes at Hannover Quay, near the Lloyds Amphitheatre. The footage shows him lifting the mooring rope and then moving towards the middle of the vessel, which began to drift away from the quayside shortly thereafter. The crew member on board expressed alarm at the situation, highlighting that similar acts have been reported in recent weeks.

Paul Manning, who leads the Extraction Action Alliance, which operates globally to reduce plastic pollution, was aboard the Lady Kate during the incident. He had been sleeping when he awoke to find the vessel adrift. Manning remarked, “It is really concerning. He didn’t untie the moorings at the other end of the boat, but it meant we drifted out perpendicular to the harbourside.”

This potentially dangerous situation was compounded by the fact that the incident took place during a time when strong winds could have exacerbated the drifting. Manning further noted that while the recent event caused minimal issues, the weight of the Lady Kate—an 80-foot long research ship—could have resulted in millions of pounds in damages if it had collided with other vessels.

“We could have faced a catastrophic incident if we didn’t have crew on board,” Manning added. He also revealed that the vandal had targeted other nearby boats that night, with fellow boat owners reporting similar disruptions, including untied moorings and unplugged power cables.

“Neighbours say they’ve had their moorings untied or released and power cables from the harbourside unplugged and let loose,” Manning said. He emphasized the need for action against such reckless behavior, stating, “Something needs to be done to stop this idiot. We need to deter him or anyone else from such mindless nonsense.”

These incidents have been reported to the Harbourmaster, who operates under Bristol City Council. The council has been approached for a comment regarding the ongoing situation and potential measures to prevent further occurrences. A response is awaited as authorities assess the implications of these troubling actions on local maritime safety.